Hundreds more flights cancelled on Friday in air traffic control strike
Expect disruption on multiple airlines including Ryanair and easyJet, and in countries including France, Spain and Greece
There will be delays at the airport
Thousands of passengers face being stranded on Friday as an air traffic control strike moves into its second day. Workers in France are striking, meaning hundreds of flights are cancelled in the country and planes which fly over France are also being grounded or diverted.
easyJet, Ryanair, HOP! and Air France cancelled around 500 flights on Thursday at the start of the action, taking place on June 3 and Friday, June 4.
Ryanair said the cancellations will affect flights to and from France, and also flights over the country to destinations such as the UK, Greece, Spain and Ireland.
The French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC) has asked for a reduction in airport capacity across the country, meaning airlines will have to cancel flights. It comes on the eve of the school summer holidays in France, when air traffic peaks. These dates are some of the busiest of the year, according to DGAC, as many head off on their summer break.
DGAC tells airlines how many flights need to be cancelled during strikes, then they have to decide which ones they axe. On Thursday 3 July, over half of all flights to and from Nice airport will be cancelled. More than half at Bastia and Calvi airports on the French island of Corsica will also need to be cancelled by airlines.
At Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Ajaccio and Figari, DGAC has asked airlines to reduce flights by 30 per cent. And 25 per cent of flights to and from Paris's airports - Paris Charles de Gaulle, Paris Orly, Paris Beauvais - will also be cancelled.
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Though the walkout will continue on Friday, only one of the two unions is taking part, meaning less disruption. The strikes could also impact 'overflights' or those which travel through French airspace. This may mean aircraft have to be rerouted around France, leading to delays. Flights to and from Belgium, Portugal, Spain and Morocco have been among the worst affected during previous ATC actions in France.
Nicky Kelvin, Editor at Large at The Points Guy said: 'My advice to travellers who are due to fly in the next few days is to keep an eye out for any correspondence from their airline provider. Most airlines will try and book passengers on alternative flights, however this won't be possible for everyone and so it is important to stay on top of the latest updates and announcements.
"For cancelled flights, passengers will more than likely be entitled to a refund, but they are unlikely to be able to claim additional compensation as the strikes will be deemed outside of the airlines' control."
Travellers heading to or back from France currently face disruption after French air traffic control strikes have been put in place, affecting key routes and airports.
Kara Gammell, personal finance expert at MoneySuperMarket Travel Insurance, said: 'Under EU law, you may be entitled to a refund for your flight from the airline, but you may also be able to reclaim other costs, such as accommodation, on your travel insurance. If your flight is delayed your airline has an obligation to offer you food, drink and accommodation depending on the length of delay.
'As long as the airline strikes were announced after you booked your trip and your travel insurance, you may be able to claim through your insurer. Always check the terms and conditions of a policy before you buy it as not all travel insurance providers offer cover for airline strikes.
'If your policy includes travel disruption cover though, then it might be possible to claim for disruption or losses incurred as a result of your trip being delayed or cancelled. This may include alternative accommodation, or expenses incurred such as travel, food and drink, and can even stretch to covering the full cost of your holiday should you end up not being able to go.
'However, it is worth noting that not all policies cover this as standard and cover levels, conditions and exclusions can vary between providers, making it important to check with your insurer as your first port of call.
Kara continues: 'If your travel plans are affected by any of the strike action across Europe, check your policy documents to understand what could be covered. Buy your travel insurance as soon as possible after booking your trip to ensure you don't miss out on the valuable cancellation cover.'
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Ivaylo Danailov, CEO of airline compensation specialists SkyRefund, said: 'If your flight is affected by the French air traffic controller strike, your rights as a passenger will depend on several factors including where you are flying from, your airline, and the reason for the disruption.
"You are protected under EU Regulation 261/2004 if you are flying from any EU airport (including France), regardless of airline nationality, and if you are flying into the EU with an EU-based airline (e.g. Air France, KLM, Lufthansa).
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